Manchester, Nov. 27, 1849.
[We are happy to be able to answer our correspondent's query at once. The first Burnet prize, on the last occasion, was gained by the Reverend William Lawrence Brown, D.D., and Principal, if we recollect rightly, of Mareschal College, Aberdeen. His prize work, entitled Essay on the Existence of a Supreme Being possessed of Infinite Power, Wisdom, and Goodness, was published at Aberdeen in 2 vols. 8vo. 1816. The second prize man was the present amiable and distinguished Archbishop of Canterbury. His work, entitled A Treatise on the Records of Creation, was published in London, in 2 vols. 8vo. 1816.]
Incumbents of Church Livings.
Sir,—In answer to the Query of your correspondent L., I beg to inform him that he may find the name, if not the birth-place, of incumbents and patrons of Church Livings in the county of Norfolk, long prior to 1680, in the Institution Books at Norwich, consisting of numerous well preserved folio volumes. Blomefield and Parkin, the historians of the county, have made ample use of these inestimable books.
G.M.
History of Landed and Commercial Policy of England—History of Edward II.
In reply to the two queries of your correspondent ANGLO-CAMBRIAN:—
1. The Remarks upon the History of the Landed and Commercial Policy of England was written by the Rev. Joseph Hudson, Prebendary of Carlisle, 1782, "a judicious and elegant writer, who could not be prevailed on to give his name with it to the public."—See Nichols's Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century, vol. viii. p. 160, note. Mr. N. characterises it as "a valuable work, richly deserving to be better known."
2. There are two histories of King Edward II., one in small folio, of which the title is accurately given by your correspondent, and another in 8vo., the title of which is given at the head of the reprint in the Harleian Miscellany, vol. i. p. 69. Both these editions bear the date of 1680. I had always supposed that the edition in 8vo. was a mere reprint of the folio; but on now comparing the text of the folio with that of the 8vo. as given in the Harl. Miscellany, I find the most essential differences; so much so, as hardly to be recognised as the same. Mr. Park, the last editor of the Harl. Miscellany (who could only find the folio), appears to have been puzzled by these differences, and explains them by the supposition that the diction has been much modified by Mr. Oldys (the original editor of the Miscellany), a supposition which is entirely erroneous. The "Publisher's Advertisement to the Reader," and the "Author's Preface to the Reader," signed "E.F.," and dated "Feb. 20, 1627," are both left out in the 8vo.; and it will be seen that the anonymous authorship and date of composition in the title-page are suppressed, for which we have substituted "found among the papers of, and (supposed to be) writ by, the Right Honourable Henry Viscount Faulkland."
Antony Wood, without absolutely questioning its authenticity, seems to have regarded it as a mere ephemeral production, as brought out at a time "when the press was open for all such books that could make any thing against the then government, with a preface to the reader patch'd up from very inconsiderable authors, by Sir Ja. II. as is supposed."—Athen. Oxom. vol. ii. p. 565. There is not the slightest evidence to connect the authorship either of the folio or the 8vo. with Henry Viscount Falkland.